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Wyoming Unemployment Rises to 4.2% in October

The Research & Planning News Release featuring employment data for October 2017 is now available online.

The Research & Planning section of the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services reported today that the state's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased slightly from 4.0% in September to 4.2% in October (not a statistically significant change). Wyoming's unemployment rate was significantly lower than its October 2016 level of 5.0%, but slightly higher than the current U.S. unemployment rate of 4.1%. The state's labor force decreased by 7,789 people (-2.6%) from October 2016 to October 2017, suggesting that unemployed workers may have moved to other states or given up their job search.

From September to October, most county unemployment rates followed their normal seasonal pattern and increased. As colder weather sets in, job losses are typically seen in leisure & hospitality, construction, retail trade, and other sectors. The largest unemployment rate increases occurred in Teton (up from 1.9% to 3.1%), Park (up from 3.2% to 3.8%), Carbon (up from 3.2% to 3.6%), and Johnson (up from 3.3% to 3.7%) counties. Campbell County's unemployment rate fell slightly in October, declining from 4.3% to 4.2%.

From October 2016 to October 2017, unemployment fell in 21 counties, remained unchanged in Laramie County (3.6%), and increased slightly in Teton County (up from 2.9% to 3.1%). The largest unemployment rate decreases were reported in Campbell (down from 6.1% to 4.2%), Natrona (down from 6.2% to 4.8%), Sublette (down from 5.1% to 3.7%), and Fremont (down from 6.0% to 4.7%) counties.

In October, Niobrara County's unemployment rate of 2.4% was the lowest in the state. It was followed by Goshen (2.6%), Albany (2.7%), and Crook (2.9%) counties. The highest unemployment rates were found in Natrona (4.8%), Fremont (4.7%), Campbell (4.2%), and Sweetwater (4.2%) counties.

Total nonfarm employment (not seasonally adjusted and measured by place of work) fell from 280,000 in October 2016 to 278,600 in October 2017, a decrease of 1,400 jobs (or -0.5%; not a statistically significant change).

Research & Planning has scheduled the November employment news release for December 22, 2017.